WC wins NCTC series, moves into second place
Coyotes take three of four from the Lions to gain ground with one conference series remaining.
After winning three out of four against North Central Texas College and receiving some help from others, the Weatherford College baseball team has leapfrogged No. 6 McLennan Community College for second place in the conference standings.
Being in the top two is advantageous because the teams that finish No. 1 and No. 2 in conference play will each host a first-round regional postseason series.
The No. 23 Coyotes split with NCTC on Saturday in Gainesville, taking three out of four from the Lions in the four-game series. Meanwhile, unranked Temple College took three out of four from MCC. With Grayson at the top of the standings at 23-5, the Coyotes are at 20-8, ahead of McLennan at 19-9 with only one league series remaining.
Weatherford (32-18 overall) dropped the opener of Saturday's doubleheader 6-5 before bouncing back with a 7-3 win in the nightcap at Darwin Field.
In game one, the Coyotes erased an early deficit with a four-run second inning but could not overcome NCTC's timely hitting down the stretch. Joseph Sandusky delivered the big blow for Weatherford, blasting a two-run home run to highlight the rally. Walt Jones and Jackson Irons each added run-scoring doubles in the inning, while Austin Godwin also drove in a run as the Coyotes jumped ahead 4-1.
Sandusky finished 1-for-2 with two RBI and a walk, while Jones went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Irons also reached base three times, going 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI.
The Lions answered with two runs in the third and two more in the fourth to regain the lead. Weatherford cut the margin to one with a run in the seventh but could not complete the comeback. Alex D'Angelo took the loss in relief despite allowing just one earned run over three innings and striking out five.
Weatherford quickly regrouped in game two behind a dominant performance on the mound and a patient offensive approach.
Holden Hering earned the win, throwing six scoreless innings and allowing just one hit while striking out five. The freshman also worked around four walks, repeatedly making big pitches to strand runners.
The Coyotes broke through in the third inning on an RBI single by Jake Overstreet, then took control with a three-run sixth. Austin Godwin sparked the inning with an RBI double, and Spencer Butt and Kyzer Harrington each followed with run-scoring hits.
Weatherford padded the lead with two more runs in the seventh and another in the eighth. Kaden Robardey drove in two runs on a bases-loaded walk and a sacrifice fly, finishing with two RBI. Overstreet scored once and drove in a run, reaching base three times on a hit and two walks. Godwin went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Harrington added two walks to his RBI single.
Oscar Salazar and Dylan Buechele combined to close the game, with Buechele recording the final out to earn his first save of the season.
WC will face Temple College in the final four games of the regular season. The Leopards will host WC on Wednesday, and the Coyotes will host on Saturday at Roger Williams Ballpark. The doubleheader will begin at noon.